Causes Of Decolonisation

The end of the Second World War marked the beginning of the end for the British and French empires. Due to its weakened positions and the emergence of two new ‘anti-colonial’ superpowers, Britain eventually lost its colonies in Africa, India, and her influence in the Middle East. France also lost its colonies in West and North Africa, as well as Indo-China. This period marked ‘the end not just of formal colonial rule, but of the era of European dominance, and of the very idea of empire’ The Second World War had left both countries in a very weak and vulnerable position, Britain being exhausted physically and France psychologically as well as physically after the humiliation of defeat and occupation by Nazi Germany, and their global standing severely weakened. With this, they had to face the challenge of maintaining authority over the colonial people who were increasingly opposed to domination by the European powers. After fighting alongside them to free countries under the Axis Powers control, the colonial people now wanted their own freedom. Although occurring over a similar time period and in similar regions, the two countries dealt with decolonisation very differently, with French decolonisation occurring much later and much less peaceful than British decolonisation.

The decolonisation of the two empires was not a reality in the immediate aftermath of the war. Although the war was catalyst for decolonisation, both Britain and France initially hoped to be able to re-establish their empires once more after the war had ended. Britain hoped to maintain her status as a global world power in the face of the emergence of two new superpowers, the USA and the Soviet Union, both with anti-colonial agendas. Despite being a part of the...

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...he US and the USSR, but decolonised out of their own interest. For Britain, the Suez crises lead to the empire becoming a burden on the pound, and to avoid bankruptcy, Britain accelerated the process of decolonisation, realising that that nuclear warfare was the real show of greatness. With France, although the FLN played a major role, the crises in France over the issue of decolonisation meant it was impossible for France to cling on to Algeria. Even De Gaulle declared that decolonisation was in France’s interest, an admission of the impossibility without more expense and bloodshed. France became exhausted rather than converted. With both countries having different reasons to decolonise, it was ultimately both countries view of colonialism that decided what experience of decolonisation they would have, with Frances experiences being much bloodier than the British.